EP2006434A2 - Feststellung eines Laugenzustands zur Verbesserung der Reinigung mit Oxidierungsmitteln - Google Patents

Feststellung eines Laugenzustands zur Verbesserung der Reinigung mit Oxidierungsmitteln Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2006434A2
EP2006434A2 EP08251599A EP08251599A EP2006434A2 EP 2006434 A2 EP2006434 A2 EP 2006434A2 EP 08251599 A EP08251599 A EP 08251599A EP 08251599 A EP08251599 A EP 08251599A EP 2006434 A2 EP2006434 A2 EP 2006434A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wash
wash liquor
washing
fabric
liquor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP08251599A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2006434A3 (de
EP2006434B1 (de
Inventor
Michael Stephen Hendrickson
Timothy Nicholas Aykroyd
Joel Adam Luckman
Colleen M Doyle
Tremitchell Wright
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Publication of EP2006434A2 publication Critical patent/EP2006434A2/de
Publication of EP2006434A3 publication Critical patent/EP2006434A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2006434B1 publication Critical patent/EP2006434B1/de
Ceased legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
    • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
    • D06F33/32—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
    • D06F33/37—Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry of metering of detergents or additives
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/20—Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/42—Detergent or additive supply

Definitions

  • a wash cycle for a clothes washer in which the clothes washer has a wash zone for receiving a load of fabric defined within a rotating drum having an outer wall.
  • the wash cycle includes a step of dispensing a detergent wash liquor into the wash zone. Another step is washing the fabric load in the wash zone with the detergent wash liquor. Another step is dispensing an oxidizing agent wash liquor into the wash zone. Another step is washing the fabric load in the wash zone with the oxidizing agent wash liquor.
  • the washing steps include steps of sensing for an oversuds condition. If an oversuds condition is detected, steps are undertaken to reduce the oversuds condition during the step of washing the fabric load.
  • the step of washing the fabric in the wash zone with the detergent wash liquor occurs prior to the step of washing the fabric in the wash zone with the oxidizing agent wash liquor.
  • the step of washing the fabric in the wash zone with the oxidizing agent wash liquor occurs prior to the step of washing the fabric in the wash zone with the detergent wash liquor.
  • the steps of reducing the oversuds condition comprise adding an anti-suds solution to the wash liquor.
  • the anti-suds solution could be one or more of cold water, a surfactant, fine particles, or silicon.
  • the suds may be reduced by applying ultrasonic energy or an electric shock to the wash liquor.
  • the step of dispensing an oxidizing agent wash liquor includes incrementally dispensing the oxidizing agent to the wash liquor while continuously sensing for an oversuds condition, and terminating the further addition of the oxidizing agent until the oversuds condition is no longer sensed.
  • the steps of reducing the oversuds condition include tumbling the fabric load in the wash zone by undertaking a low duty cycle intermittent rotation of the washer drum.
  • the steps of reducing the oversuds condition include a timed pause in the wash cycle during which time there is no rotation of the washer drum.
  • the steps of sensing for the oversuds condition during the washing steps include at least one of sensing an operating condition of a motor used to rotate the drum, the conductivity of the wash liquor, the capacitance of the wash liquor, the surface tension of the wash liquor, the turbidity of the wash liquor and an operating condition of a pump used to circulate the wash liquor.
  • the steps of washing the fabric load include recirculating the wash liquor with a recirculation pump and the steps of reducing the oversuds condition include turning off the recirculation pump.
  • Another aspect of the invention provides a wash cycle for a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone defined within a rotating drum having an outer wall, for receiving a load of fabric, comprising the steps:
  • FIG. 1 is a flow chart diagram of a portion of a wash cycle including suds sensing and removal steps.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a clothes washer in which the steps of the present invention can be carried out.
  • a wash cycle 20 is provided for a clothes washer 21 in which the clothes washer has a wash zone 23 for receiving a load of fabric 25 defined within a rotating drum 27 having an outer wall.
  • the wash cycle includes a step 22 of dispensing a detergent wash liquor via a dispensing outlet 29 into the wash zone 23.
  • Another step 24 is washing the fabric load in the wash zone with the detergent wash liquor.
  • Another step 26 is dispensing an oxidizing agent wash liquor via a dispensing outlet 31 into the wash zone 23.
  • the dispensing outlet 29 for the detergent wash liquor may be the same or different than the dispensing outlet 31 for the oxidizing agent wash liquor.
  • Another step 28 is washing the fabric load in the wash zone 23 with the oxidizing agent wash liquor.
  • the washing steps include steps 30 of sensing for an oversuds condition. If an oversuds condition is detected, steps 34 are undertaken to reduce or remove the oversuds condition during the step of washing the fabric load.
  • the oxidizing agents to be added to the wash zone are active oxygen releasing compounds, e.g., peroxides (peroxygen compounds) such as perborate, percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates, persulfates, their sodium, ammonium, potassium and lithium analogs, calcium peroxide, zinc peroxide, sodium peroxide, carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and the like.
  • peroxides peroxygen compounds
  • these agents also include peroxy acids and organic peroxides and various mixtures thereof.
  • a peroxy acid is an acid in which an acidic -OH group has been replaced by an -OOH group. They are formed chiefly by elements in groups 14, 15 and 16 of the periodic table, but boron and certain transition elements are also known to form peroxy acids. Sulfur and phosphorus form the largest range of peroxy acids, including some condensed forms such as peroxydiphosphoric acid, H 4 P 2 O 8 and peroxydisulfuric acid, H 2 S 2 O 8 . This term also includes compounds such as peroxy-carboxylic acids and meta- chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA).
  • mCPBA meta- chloroperoxybenzoic acid
  • Organic peroxides are organic compounds containing the peroxide functional group (ROOR'). If the R' is hydrogen, the compound is called an organic hydroperoxide.
  • Peresters have general structure RC(O)OOR. The O-O bond easily breaks and forms free radicals of the form RO ⁇ . This makes organic peroxides useful for cleaning purposes.
  • oxidizing agent product composition based on concentration. "Ultra concentrated” means that 80 to 100% of the bleach is active. “Concentrated” means that 40 to 79% of the bleach is active. “Bleach with additive” means that 20-40 % of the bleach is active. “Cleaning product with bleach” means that less than 25% of the bleach is active.
  • Oxidizing agents may be combined within a mixture that has a selection of other material, such as one or more of the following: builders, surfactants, enzymes, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, bleach boosters, alkalinity sources, antibacterial agents, colorants, perfumes, pro-perfumes, finishing aids, lime soap dispersants, composition malodor control agents, odor neutralizers, polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, photobleaches, heavy metal ion sequestrants, anti-tarnishing agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-oxidants, linkers, anti-redeposition agents, electrolytes, pH modifiers, thickeners, abrasives, divalent or trivalent ions, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, diamines or polyamines and/or their alkoxylates, suds stabilizing polymers, solvents, process aids, fabric softening agents, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, suds or foam suppressors, suds or foam booster
  • a particular oxidizing agent to be added to form the oxidizing agent wash liquor could comprise a combination of water with one or more of sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, surfactants and enzymes.
  • the steps 30 of sensing for the oversuds condition during the washing steps 24, 28 include at least one of sensing an operating condition of a motor used to rotate the drum, the conductivity of the wash liquor, the capacitance of the wash liquor, the surface tension of the wash liquor, the turbidity of the wash liquor and an operating condition of a pump used to circulate or recirculated the wash liquor.
  • the step 24 of washing the fabric load 25 in the wash zone with the detergent wash liquor occurs prior to the step 28 of washing the fabric in the wash zone with the oxidizing agent wash liquor.
  • the step 24 of washing the fabric load 25 in the wash zone with the oxidizing agent wash liquor occurs prior to the step 28 of washing the fabric in the wash zone with the detergent wash liquor.
  • the steps 34 of removing or reducing the oversuds condition comprise a step 36 of adding an anti-suds treatment, such as a solution to the wash liquor.
  • an anti-suds treatment such as a solution to the wash liquor.
  • the anti-suds solution could be one or more of cold water, a surfactant, fine particles, or silicon.
  • the suds may be removed or reduced by a treatment such as applying ultrasonic energy or an electric shock to the wash liquor.
  • the steps 34 of reducing the oversuds condition may include a step 38 of tumbling the fabric load in the wash zone 23 by undertaking a low duty cycle intermittent rotation of the washer drum 27.
  • the steps 34 of reducing the oversuds condition may include a step 40 of a timed pause in the wash cycle during which time there is no rotation of the washer drum 27.
  • the steps 24, 28 of washing the fabric load 25 include recirculating the wash liquor with a recirculation pump and the steps 34 of reducing the oversuds condition include turning off the recirculation pump.
  • a step 42 is preformed to return control back to the regular wash cycle 20 to resume the normal washing steps.
  • control determines in step 44 whether the particular wash cycle selects an oxidizing agent.
  • a step 46 is then carried out to determine whether an additional amount of oxidizing agent is needed.
  • the step 26 of dispensing an oxidizing agent wash liquor includes incrementally dispensing the oxidizing agent to the wash liquor while continuously sensing in step 30 for an oversuds condition, and terminating the further addition of the oxidizing agent until the oversuds condition is no longer sensed.
  • step 44 it would be determined that an oxidizing agent has been selected.
  • step 46 it would be determined that an additional amount of oxidizing agent is needed, since none would have been added yet.
  • an incremental amount of oxidizing agent is added to the wash zone 23 and the step 28 of washing the fabric load 25 would begin.
  • the oversuds condition would be sensed in step 30, and if oversudsing is sensed, then the steps 34-40 of removing or reducing the suds would be carried out.
  • step 28 The wash cycle 28 would be resumed and the oversuds condition would be checked again in step 30. If oversudsing is detected again, control would return to the suds removal steps 34-40, but if oversudsing is no longer detected, then control would pass to step 44 to determine, again, if an oxidizing agent was selected and then to step 46 to determine whether additional oxidizing agent is needed. If a further incremental amount of oxidizing agent is needed, then control passes again to step 26 to dispense a further amount of oxidizing agent and then to step 28 to continue the washing in the oxidizing agent wash liquor, while continuing to sense the oversuds condition in step 44.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
EP08251599.0A 2007-05-07 2008-05-01 Feststellung eines Laugenzustands zur Verbesserung der Reinigung mit Oxidierungsmitteln Ceased EP2006434B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/744,948 US20080276963A1 (en) 2007-05-07 2007-05-07 Sensing over suds condition to improve cleaning with oxidizing agents

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2006434A2 true EP2006434A2 (de) 2008-12-24
EP2006434A3 EP2006434A3 (de) 2009-01-14
EP2006434B1 EP2006434B1 (de) 2015-07-22

Family

ID=39876499

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08251599.0A Ceased EP2006434B1 (de) 2007-05-07 2008-05-01 Feststellung eines Laugenzustands zur Verbesserung der Reinigung mit Oxidierungsmitteln

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20080276963A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2006434B1 (de)
BR (1) BRPI0801319A2 (de)
CA (1) CA2622836A1 (de)
MX (1) MX2008005886A (de)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2012170699A2 (en) * 2011-06-07 2012-12-13 Steven Bolling Hand cleanliness
ES2538901B1 (es) * 2013-12-24 2016-05-03 Bsh Electrodomésticos España, S.A. Máquina de lavado y procedimiento de utilización de dicha máquina de lavado
US10047469B2 (en) 2015-12-21 2018-08-14 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with over-sudsing condition compensation measures
CN107142657B (zh) * 2017-04-10 2022-05-17 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 一种洗衣机及其工作方法
DE102017215038A1 (de) * 2017-08-29 2019-02-28 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa Verfahren zum Waschen von Wäsche einer Waschladung, Vorrichtung, Computerprogramm und System
US20220120006A1 (en) * 2020-10-19 2022-04-21 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Machine appliance and a method for preventing an oversuds condition

Citations (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4410329A (en) 1981-11-06 1983-10-18 General Electric Company Washing machine with oversuds detection and correction capability
US5768730A (en) 1994-12-06 1998-06-23 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Drum type washing machine and dryer
US5890247A (en) 1997-12-22 1999-04-06 Maytag Corporation Automatic washing machine incorporating a suds detection and control system
US6269666B1 (en) 1999-06-22 2001-08-07 Whirlpool Corporation Control for an automatic washer with spray pretreatment

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US1984210A (en) * 1930-02-08 1934-12-11 Electro Chem Eng Method and apparatus for preventing foaming of liquids
US2489278A (en) * 1948-07-16 1949-11-29 Howard R Fink Method of cleansing clothes
US3570272A (en) * 1968-10-10 1971-03-16 Blackstone Corp Water saver and suds lock elimination system for washing machines
DE1914684B2 (de) * 1969-03-22 1975-12-04 Th. Goldschmidt Ag, 4300 Essen Entschäumeremulsion
US4489574A (en) * 1981-11-10 1984-12-25 The Procter & Gamble Company Apparatus for highly efficient laundering of textiles
EP0915150A1 (de) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-12 The Procter & Gamble Company Verfahren zum Einweichen von Geweben mit einer flüssigen, wässrigen Persulfatlösung
DE59913725D1 (de) * 1998-09-30 2006-09-14 Siemens Ag Verfahren und Anordnung zur rechnergestützten Ermittlung von Clustern zur Erkennung von Schaumbildung in einer Waschmaschine sowie Verfahren und Anordnung zur Erkennung von Schaumbildung in einer Waschmaschine
US7021087B2 (en) * 2000-06-05 2006-04-04 Procter & Gamble Company Methods and apparatus for applying a treatment fluid to fabrics
US6811811B2 (en) * 2001-05-04 2004-11-02 Procter & Gamble Company Method for applying a treatment fluid to fabrics
US20030013675A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2003-01-16 Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma Kg Combination of an adenosine A2A-receptor agonist and tiotropium or a derivative thereof for treating obstructive airways and other inflammatory diseases
US6523205B1 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-02-25 Maytag Corporation Suds detection and display system for an automatic washing machine
US7168273B2 (en) * 2002-11-07 2007-01-30 The Procter & Gamble Company Selective dispensing apparatus
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Patent Citations (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4410329A (en) 1981-11-06 1983-10-18 General Electric Company Washing machine with oversuds detection and correction capability
US5768730A (en) 1994-12-06 1998-06-23 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Drum type washing machine and dryer
US5890247A (en) 1997-12-22 1999-04-06 Maytag Corporation Automatic washing machine incorporating a suds detection and control system
US6269666B1 (en) 1999-06-22 2001-08-07 Whirlpool Corporation Control for an automatic washer with spray pretreatment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2006434A3 (de) 2009-01-14
EP2006434B1 (de) 2015-07-22
BRPI0801319A2 (pt) 2010-01-12
CA2622836A1 (en) 2008-11-07
US20080276963A1 (en) 2008-11-13
MX2008005886A (es) 2009-03-02

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